Silver lining in failure of unilateral conversion amendment: MB
There is a silver lining to the failure to table amendments to a law that would allow for the unilateral conversion of minors at the Selangor Legislative Assembly, according to Amirudin Shari.
Speaking to reporters today, the Selangor menteri besar said this would allow his administration to take a closer look at the bill and engage in more discussions with stakeholders...
There is a silver lining to the Selangor government's failure to table amendments to a law that would allow for the unilateral conversion of minors, according to Amirudin Shari.
Speaking to reporters today, the Selangor menteri besar said this would allow his administration to take a closer look at the bill and engage in more discussions with stakeholders.
"This is a legal debate. There are several views (on the matter) and we are looking at its framework holistically," he said at the sidelines of his Aidiladha open house at his official residence in Shah Alam.
"And this is not only about the issue of parents. We have to look at this from (the perspective) of the spirit of the constitution, and the intention behind the amendment.
"I think it is also a good thing that it was not tabled (in the state assembly) early this month. It gives us the opportunity to discuss the issue thoroughly, and after it is done and I get to finalise it with the Selangor sultan, we will take the next step."
Read more: Sultan of Selangor reviewing unilateral conversion bill, says MB
Earlier this month, it was reported that Amirudin and Selangor Legislative Assembly speaker Ng Sue Lim were at odds after the latter purportedly stymied an attempt to table the unilateral conversion bill.
Ng (photo), however, denied cutting the state assembly sitting down to just two days to prevent the amendments from being tabled.
At present, the state enactment reads that those below 18 must obtain the consent of his or her "mother and father" before embracing Islam. The amendment seeks to change this to "mother or father."
The issue was said to have led to a political storm brewing in the state, with speculation of a move to oust the speaker.
It also occurred amid a rumoured plot to remove Amirudin, an ally of deputy PKR president Mohamed Azmin Ali, as the menteri besar.
'I will speak to Zuraida'
Asked about PKR vice-president Zuraida Kamaruddin asking him to explain the attempt to push through the amendment, Amirudin said he would need to speak to her first to understand what she means.
"I have to see Zuraida (to ask) what she meant by that. I have no problem explaining it," he said.
When asked about his take on calls within Pakatan Harapan for Dr Mahathir Mohamad (photo) to stay as the prime minister for a full term, Amirudin said he would rather discuss the matter internally instead of in the open.
"I think better we discuss properly in our meetings rather than we discuss in the media."
Prior to this, several Harapan leaders, including from PKR, had backed calls from the opposition for Mahathir to serve out a full term – which goes against the Harapan agreement to have PKR president Anwar Ibrahim be his successor.
'Reject violence'
On the recent road rage incident which saw a 29-year-old man rammed to death in Bangi, Amirudin called on all quarters, regardless of race, to reject violence.
He also urged all parties to allow the police to conclude its probe.
"Brutal and inhumane actions like this cannot be accepted in our community, regardless of who does it.
"I hope this case is not viewed in a racial context. Most importantly, violent and brutal acts must be rejected by all parties."
On Saturday, a minor road accident on the North-South Expressway led to the victim being rammed into a divider after he attacked another vehicle with a baseball bat.
Police have since ruled out race as a motivating factor behind the incident. The driver and his wife have also been remanded to facilitate investigations.
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